Self-sealing receptacle closure



Filed Feb. 12, 1959 FIG.|

O 3 nv/ 4 Q 3 Q 2 |w+ m4 4 m i I i INVENTORQ Milton 8. Herbrick dwrmATTXJ United States Patent SELF-SEALING RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Milton B.Herbrick, P.O. Box 486, Sterling, Colo.

Filed Feb. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 792,747

5 Claims. (Cl. 222507) This invention relates generally to closuredevices or caps for use upon dispensing receptacles of various types,more particularly paste tubes.

The self-sealing closure device of the present invention while designedprimarily for use upon paste tubes of the type commonly employed formerchandising tooth paste, ointments, artists oil paints and other pastyor semi-solid substances, is also adaptable for use upon receptacleshaving nozzles of suitable character for receiving the cap anddesignedto contain liquids. It will accordingly be understood that whilethe following description will refer to the use of the cap on a tube,there is no intention of limiting the invention to this specific type ofreceptacle.

In the use of conventional tooth paste or other collapsible tubes, it isa common experience of users to drop and temporarily mislay orpermanently lose the cap and in this event the contents of the tube maydry out and become unusable.

It is also a common experience to have the contents of the paste tubepartially dry through an improper replacement of the conventional screwcap thereon and also in the use of such conventional screw caps it isfound that the paste will get into the cap and be squeezed out along theouter Side of the outlet neck of the tube and become dried and cakedaround the outside of the tube.

It is a particular object of the present invention accordingly toprovide a new and novel self-sealing closure device which remains on thetube or other receptacle as a fixed unit or, in other words, a unitwhich cannot fall oil although it may be deliberately removed fortransfer to other receptacles after the one is exhausted, so that, beingeither permanently or temporarily attached to the receptacle, it can bereadily opened and closed to permit the discharge of desired amounts ofthe receptacle contents, without the risk of having the closure becomeseparated and mislaid or permanently lost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a self-sealingclosure or cap of the character above described which is designed in anovel manner whereby when a movable shut-off portion of the cap is movedinto closed position there will not only be obtained a firm or tightseal between the parts which, when separated, permit the contents of thereceptacle to be ejected, but any slight amount of material remainingbetween the relatively movable parts will, when bringing such partstogether for closing the cap, be forced back into a receiving area andretained separate from contact with the atmosphere so the it cannot dryout or become contaminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a selfsealing cap orclosure device of the character described wherein there is employed acircumferentially corrugated elastic sleeve which maintains in theclosed condition of the cap a relatively close relationship with thereceptacle outlet or discharge neck and which is associated with a meanswhereby it can be stretched axially to enlarge a space between itselfand the outlet neck into which the 2,974,835 Patented Mar. 14, 1961contents of the tube or receptacle may pass and from which it may becaused to flow through an outlet for use.

Generallythe present invention embodies a sealer element which includesa circumferentially corrugated sleeve of a suitable elastomer such as anelastic and stretchable plastic, rubber or the like, joined at one endto a relatively hard internally and externally threaded collar which isadapted to receive the discharge neck of a paste tube or otherreceptacle for threaded engagement with the inner end or base portion ofsuch neck to maintain the sleeve in encasing relation with the neck. Theouter end of the elastic and stretchable corrugated sleeve is joined toa tapered nozzle head which is adapted, in the unstretched condition ofthe sleeve, to be seated against the outer end of the tube neck toprevent'contents of the tube or receptacle passing through wall openingsin the neck and then outwardly through the nozzle. Associated with andencircling or encasing the sleeve is an actuating sleeve nut of suitablerigid or semi-rigid material such as metal, hard plastic or the like,which is threaded at its inner end around the outer part of the sleevecollar and is swivelly coupled at its outer end with the nozzle head ofthe sleeve whereby rotation of such sleeve nut in one direction willmove it axially outwardly with respect to the receptacle neck andelongate or stretch the corrugated sleeve to open or unseal the cap andupon reverse rotation of the nut the nozzle head of the sleeve will bereturned to sealing position on the outer end of the neck and thestretchable portion of the sleeve will contract to its initial form. Bythe provision of this structure portions of the sleeve will, in theopening of the cap, move radially outwardly from the receptacle neck andform with the receptacle neck a relatively large chamber into which someof the contents of the receptacle may pass and from which it can thenflow out through the nozzle head and upon reverse or closing movement ofthe sleeve nut the nozzle head will seat itself, as stated, and thesleeve will move radially inwardly as it contracts and any substanceremaining between the nozzle head and the outer end of the receptacleneck will be squeezed back into an area of reduced size between thesleeve and the receptacle neck.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detail description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming part of the specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity withthe showing of the drawing-but may be changed or modified so long assuch changes or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the materialoutlet neck portion of a receptacle such as a paint tube and through theself-sealing closure or cap of the present invention, the cap beingshown in its closed position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. l but showing the capin opened condition;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 33of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 44of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 generallydesignates a receptacle, in the present case shown as in the form of aconventional paste tube, and having the upwardly tapering shoulderportion 12 whereby when the tube is squeezed or the receptacle isinverted, the contents will be .caused to flow toward the axial centerof the receptacle and into the conventional dispensing or discharge neck14.

In this construction of the neck portion 14 of the receptacle the outerend thereof is drawn down to provide the frusto-conical terminal part 16which provides a seating shoulder 18 for a hereinafter described part ofthe cap structure and the smaller end of the frustum is. closed by thewall 29; 7 At the inner end of the tapered or conical portion 16 of theneck, the wall of the neck is provided with laterally directed outletopenings 22. 7

As is conventional in paste tubes, the inner end portion of the neck towhich the closure cap is attached is provided with a narrow band ofscrew threads here designated 24.

The cap structure forming with the modified outer end portion of theneck 14, the sealing closure of the present invention, is generallydesignated 25.

The cap structure 25 comprises a sleeve collar 26 which is interiorlyand exteriorly screw threaded whereby by means of the interior threads,it may be coupled to the base portion of the neck by means of the neckscrew threads 24. Joined at its inner end to the collar 26 is a sleeve27 which is circumferentially corrugated, the corrugations beingdesignated 28, and the minimum inside diameter of the corrugated sleevewhen in its relaxed or non-stretched condition, is approximately thesame as the outside diameter of the neck 14 so that when the sleeve isin encasing relation with the neck, the ribs between the corrugationswill lie close to or may contact the surface of the enclosed orencircled neck.

The outer end portion of the corrugated sleeve joins with the base of afrusto-conical nozzle head 29 which at the upper or smaller end has thedischarge or outlet opening 39. The inside taper of this head 29corresponds with the taper of the outer surface 180i the frusto-conicalend portion of the neck 14 so that in the closed condition of the capthe inside surface 29 of the head 29 will bear through a relatively widearea fiat and firmly against the surface 18 to form a tight sealtherewith.

The sleeve collar 26, the sleeve 27 and the nozzle head 29 preferablyare made of a suitable synthetic resin plastic and the collar 26 andhead 29 are of substantial thickness and of a relatively hard plasticwhile the sleeve 27 which joins them together is relatively thin walledand is formed of a stretchable or elastic form of plastic.

While plastic material is preferred in the formation of these parts justdescribed, it is, of course, to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the use of such material since the collar 26 and nozzle 29may be formed of any suitable substance such as hard rubber, or asuitable metal, and the sleeve 27 may be formed of a soft or stretchableor elastic rubber and accordingly the material of the entire sleeveportion may be defined as an elastomer by which, of course, it will beunderstood that this means any elastic substance suitable for use inthisdevice.

Where it may be desirable to transfer the self-sealing cap or closurefrom one receptacle or paste tube to ar1- other, means is provided tofacilitate rotating the collar 26 to thread it onto or off thereceptacle neck, such means being here shown as being in the form offinger members 31 forming integral extensions of the collar 26 anddisposed at a suitable angle to lie flat upon the inclined shoulder 12of the receptacle when the collar is threaded into position on the neck.

Encircling the base portion of the frusto-conical nozzle 2? is theannular rib 32 formed of the same hard material as the nozzle body 2%and which forms an element of a swivel coupling between the nozzle 29and a sleeve nut which is generally designated 33. i

This swivel coupling may be generally designated 34 and in addition toembodying as one element the rib 32, it includes a channeled snap ring35, which encircles the rib and which has the channel 36 thereofdirected inwardly and snugly receiving the rib, but permitting rotarymovement of the ring around the rib 32. The sleeve nut 33 comprises theelongate sleeve body 37 which encircles or encases the corrugated sleeve27 and at its inner end it is interiorly screw threaded as at 38 forconnection with the collar 26 by means of the screw threads formedaround the outer side of the collar. At its outer end the body 37 of thesleeve nut is crimped or swaged inwardly as indicated at 39 over theouter portion of the snap ring 35 to bear thereon. V

A locking connection is established between the snap ring 35 and theouter end portion of the sleeve nut body 37 which embodies a series ofpin members 40 carried by and extending inwardly from the wall of thebody 37 for engagement in corresponding notches or depressions orapertures 41 formed in the outside surface of the snap ring. By thisconnection it will be seen that when rotary motion is given to thesleeve nut 33, it will impart rotation to the snap ring on the rib 32forming a part of the swivel coupling between the nozzle 29 and theouter end of the sleeve nut.

In the operation of the present invention when the sleeve nut is rotatedin the proper direction to move it axially inwardly on the threadedcollar 26, the nozzle body 29 will be moved axially of the neck 14' byreason of the swivel coupling between it and the sleeve nut, until thesurface 29 of the nozzle head is brought into seating engagement againstthe surface 18 of the outer end portion 16 of the neck. The corrugatedsleeve 27 may then be considered to be in its fully contracted orsubstantially fully contracted condition where portions of thecorrugations will either bear against or come into close proximity withthe outer surface of the neck 14 so that there is a minimum of spacingbetween the neck 14 and the corrugated sleeve 27. It will be seen uponreference to Fig. 1 that when the cap is closed the outlet apertures 22will be below the contacting surfaces 18 and 29*, opening into the smallarea surrounding the upper end of the neck between the same and thecorrugated sleeve.

In the operation of opening the cap for the discharge of material fromthe receptacle, reverse rotation is given the actuating sleeve nut 33 tomove it axially outwardly on the'collar 26 which, of course, is firmlythreaded down so that it will not rotate with the nut. As the nut 33moves outwardly axial outward thrust will be imparted to the nozzle 29through the medium of the swivel coupling 34 so as to unseat it from thesurface 18 and at the same time the sleeve 27 will be stretched and willmove radially outwardly away from the neck by reason of the flatteningof the corrugations in the manner shown in Fig. 2. This will provide anincreased area in the form of an annular chamber 42 around the neck 14into which the contents of the receptacle 10 may flow and from thischamber the contents may pass between the now separated surfaces 18 and29 for passage outwardly for escape through the opening 30 of the nozzle29.

When the cap is re-closed and the surfaces 18 and 29 are again broughtinto sealing relation in the manner shown in Fig. 1, it will be seenthat any material remaining will be squeezed out, some of it possiblypassing outwardlythrough the opening 30 where it may be removed for useand the remainder being squeezed back into the now reduced size chamberor space between the corrugated sleeve and the receptacle neck. Thus nomaterial will be left exposed to the atmosphere where it can become dryor contaminated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is provided by the presentinvention a new and novel closure device which is readily applicable toreceptacles of the nature of paste tubes where the dispensing necks areformed or may be modified to form the one here illustrated, which cap orclosure has many advantages over caps of the type which arecompletely-removable from the tube or other so-called captive capswhich, while they cannot escape from the tube, nevertheless do notfunction to prevent some ofthe contents. being. left on the outside todry out and become unsightly.

I claim:

1. A sealing cap for attachment to a tubular discharge neck of adispensing receptacle wherein said neck is closed across the outer endand has a laterally directed outlet located inwardly from said end, saidcap comprising an elastic sleeve encasing the neck, means sealinglycoupling an end portion of the sleeve to the inner end portion of theneck, a tapered outlet nozzle carried by the other end of the sleeve forsealing seating engagement upon the outer end of the neck at a positionaxially outwardly of said lateral outlet, a sleeve nut encasing theelastic sleeve for effecting elastic elongation of the sleeve for theunseating of said outlet nozzle from the outer end of the neck, meansfor coupling the inner end portion of the sleeve nut with the inner endportion of the neck whereby selective axial in-and-out movement may beimparted to the sleeve nut by its rotation, the sleeve nut at its outerend encircling the outlet nozzle, means forming a swivel couplingbetween the outlet nozzle and the said outer end of the sleeve nut, andmeans operating coincidentally with said sleeve elongation forseparating the sleeve through a portion of its length irom and radiallywith respect to the nozzle to form an annular chamber for receivingmaterial from said laterally directed outlet.

2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said swivel couplingembodies an annular rib around and joined to the outlet nozzle and aninternally grooved ring member secured within the outer end of thesleeve nut and having said annular rib engaged therein for the rotationof the ring thereon with rotation of the sleeve nut.

3. A sealing cap for attachment to a tubular discharge neck of adispensing receptacle wherein said neck is closed across the outer endand has a laterally directed outlet located inwardly from said end, saidcap comprising an internally and externally threaded collar adapted toencircle and have threaded connection with the inner end portion of saidneck, a relatively thin walled circumferentially wrinkled elastic sleevehaving an inner end joined to said collar, a substantiallyfrusto-conical discharge nozzle joined at its base to the outer end ofthe sleeve, the nozzle having its inner surface formed to receive andmake sealing engagement with the outer end of said neck, a sleeve nutencasing the elastic sleeve and at its inner end encircling and havingthreaded engagement with the external threads of said collar, the sleevenut having an outer end encircling the said base of said frusto-conicalnozzle, a swivel coupling between the base of said nozzle and theencircling end portion of the sleeve nut comprising a rib around andoutstanding from the base of the nozzle and an internalcircumferentially channeled ring lying within said outer end of thesleeve nut and having the rib engaged therein, and means coupling thesaid outer end of the sleeve nut with said ring, whereby outward axialmovement imparted to the sleeve nut threading it outwardly on the collarwill impart separation movement of the discharge nozzle from the outerend of the neck and longitudinal stretch to the elastic sleeve.

4. In combination, a dispensing receptacle having an elongate tubulardischarge neck, the neck having an outer end frusto-conical closedtermination, the outer surface of said frusto-conical terminationforming a seat, the neck further having an outlet in its wall disposedinwardly from the base portion of said frusto-conical termination, screwthreads formed around the inner end of said neck, an elasticcircumferentially corrugated sleeve encasing said neck, an internallyand externally threaded collar encircling the neck and having threadedconnection with the said screw threads around the inner end of the neck,said sleeve having an inner end joined to the collar, a substantiallyfrusto-conical nozzle having an outlet in the apex portion thereof tothe outer end of the sleeve, said nozzle being formed to position onsaid seat and to be closed in the outlet portion thereof by thefrusto-conical termination of said neck when said elastic sleeve is incontracted condition, and a member threadedly connected with said collarby the extrenal threads of the collar and having swivel connection withthe said base portion of said nozzle whereby threaded movement of themember on the collar longitudinally outwardly of the discharge neckeffects 'an elastic elongation of the sleeve and the unseating of thenozzle from the neck seat.

5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said member comprises acylindrical body having an internally threaded inner end and whereinsaid swivel connection embodies an internally channeled annulus fixed toand within the cylindrical body and encircling the base portion of thenozzle and the nozzle has an external encircling rib slidably engagingin the channel of the annulus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,107,106 Crook Feb. 1, 1938 2,149,711 Stock Mar. 7, 1939 2,582,026Friedman Ian. 8, 1952 2,831,620 Schlicksupp Apr. 22, 1958

